Qin Yuanzheng originally wanted to change all the bedsheets on his bed to a fresh set.
Although these sheets were not dirty, as he basically washed them once a month.
But the young girl might be shy; wouldn't she sleep more comfortably if he changed to fresh sheets?
However, as he was about to change them, he suddenly paused, harboring a secret thought in his heart.
That was, he wanted to see the young girl covered from head to toe in his scent, tainted with his aura... that kind of feeling...
Qin Yuanzheng wiped his face, feeling there was nothing to shy away from. After all, they were about to get their marriage certificate soon.
Thinking of this, Qin Yuanzheng decided not to change them. Instead, he simply laid an extra mattress pad on the bed to make it softer. Comrade Xiao Qiao looked delicate; a softer bed would let her sleep more comfortably.
The heating in the military dormitory was quite decent, keeping the room quite warm. He was only wearing a tank top, yet he still felt incredibly hot.
Nevertheless, he shut the windows tightly and stuffed some cloth strips into the gaps to prevent cold drafts from seeping in.
When Qiao Lanshu was at the guesthouse earlier, there was nowhere to take a shower.
The toilets were communal and required going outside, so she had not bathed for several days.
Although the climate here was very dry and cold, meaning going a few days without a bath was not too uncomfortable, she was not used to it and felt dirty all over.
Therefore, she simply took a hot shower here and washed her hair while she was at it.
Her hair was very long and thick. After washing, her thick hair draped loosely down her back, and she was not in a hurry to dry it.
Given how dry the room was, she figured it would dry quickly anyway.
She came out of the bathroom, her cheeks flushed pink from the steam.
Wearing a thin knit shirt and long pants she had brought from home, she walked into the room and looked around.
She saw Qin Yuanzheng hanging curtains.
She walked over, looked up at him, and asked, Commander Qin, what are you doing?
Qin Yuanzheng had not had curtains before; he just pasted newspapers on the windows to block the light casually.
Now, he felt the room without curtains was a bit cold, so he found a piece of cloth and nailed it above the window.
Standing on a stool, he looked up to nail the cloth in place, then replied, I am hanging up a cloth to block the wind.
As he spoke, he looked down at Qiao Lanshu. He saw her in thin clothes, her waist-length black hair cascading down. Her neat bangs covered her forehead, revealing only her smiling, crescent-shaped eyes and her flushed little face.
So well-behaved, he thought. He stared at Qiao Lanshu for a few seconds, and then the hammer in his hand lost its aim, smashing right onto his own finger.
Qin Yuanzheng: ...
Qin Yuanzheng closed his eyes, enduring the pain without showing it.
He quickly finished nailing the cloth, jumped down from the chair, neatly packed away his tools, and put them in the drawer.
He checked again and found the room had indeed warmed up a bit. He rubbed his nose, too embarrassed to look at Qiao Lanshu again, and said, That should do it. I will go boil some water so you can drink if you get thirsty in the middle of the night. You should get into bed and rest first.
Saying that, he strode out the door.
Qiao Lanshu still wanted to talk to him for a bit, but he ran off so fast.
Qiao Lanshu: ...
Qiao Lanshu thought about it and felt a bit shy. After all, a lone man and a lone woman sharing a room was still a bit nerve-wracking to think about.
It was better to just sleep first and talk about it tomorrow when she woke up.
With this thought, Qiao Lanshu sat on the bed.
The 1.2-meter single bed was made soft and cozy, and the quilt was neatly folded. This was Qin Yuanzheng's bed, and she was actually going to sleep in it.
It felt somewhat unbelievable just thinking about it.
She lowered her head, stroked the quilt, and chuckled softly for a moment.
The more time they spent together, the more she felt that Qin Yuanzheng was truly a good person.
Not only did he have good character and know how to take care of people, but he could also cook, and his cooking was delicious and perfectly suited her taste!
This man was so wonderful; how could God bear to let his line end?
Qiao Lanshu thought with some regret. She was actually very willing to bear him a child.
At this moment, Qin Yuanzheng, who had already left, suddenly returned.
He knocked on the door, then came in holding a new towel. He said, Dry your hair, and wait until it is dry before you sleep.
Qiao Lanshu took the towel with a blushing face, then looked at Qin Yuanzheng and asked, Commander Qin, where, where are you sleeping tonight?
Qin Yuanzheng: ...
Qin Yuanzheng was also a bit embarrassed. He barely even dared to look at Qiao Lanshu.
He said, I will sleep in the living room.
Saying that, he quickly turned and went out again.
Qiao Lanshu: ...
Qiao Lanshu could not understand it. Why was this man always in such a rush?
Every time she wanted to exchange a few more words with him, he would just run off in a hurry, completely denying her the chance.
After Qin Yuanzheng went out, he brought over a boiled kettle of water and placed it on the bedside cabinet. He also brought a glass, poured a cup of hot water to let it cool, and without saying much, he truly left the room this time.
He closed the door and then went to the bathroom to take a cold shower.
He had been feeling quite hot these past few days anyway, and now that he was spending time with Comrade Xiao Qiao, his body felt even hotter.
He suspected that the effects of the drug Wang Huiping had given him earlier had not worn off yet.
Otherwise, how could he be feeling more and more uncomfortable as the day went on?
Qin Yuanzheng took a cold shower, washing his overheated body until it emanated a chill. Then he came out of the bathroom, wearing an army green tank top and black cargo pants. With wet water droplets still clinging to his hair, he lay down directly on the wooden bench in the living room just like that.
He would make Comrade Xiao Qiao dry her hair before sleeping, but he was not very particular about himself. Anyway, he had a buzz cut, and a casual rub with his hands was enough to dry it.
As he lay on the bench, thinking of the young girl lying in his room, on his bed, his heart felt incredibly fiery.
This young girl was his wife, and he was finally going to have a wife.
What was it like to have a wife?
He had to prepare a house first. The house in the military compound should be approved, as it had already been prepared for him; he just had not gone to pick up the keys yet.
The house had basic furniture, including a heated brick bed, tables, chairs, and benches. He just needed to buy pots, pans, and bowls.
The young girl was from the south, so he needed to buy and stock up on some rice.
And he needed to buy the Three Turns and One Sound like a bicycle, sewing machine, watch, and radio, but what else did he need to buy?
He thought carefully in his heart. In the middle of the night, unable to sleep, he quietly got up, opened the bedroom door, and went in to take a look.
Comrade Xiao Qiao had already fallen asleep wrapped in the quilt.
Once asleep, Qiao Lanshu looked even more well-behaved.
Qin Yuanzheng tucked the corners of the quilt around her, his heart softening.
Oh right, he had to make her a soft, new cotton quilt.
...
When she woke up the next morning, Qiao Lanshu found that the sun was already out.
She sat on the bed in a daze for a few seconds before realizing where she was.
She suddenly snapped fully awake. How could she have slept until this hour? She wondered if Qin Yuanzheng would despise her for being lazy.
She hurried out of bed, tied her hair back casually, and ran out to take a look.
The house was completely empty; Qin Yuanzheng was nowhere to be found.
Puzzled, she walked into the kitchen and glanced around, only to spot a note resting on the counter. It read: "There is millet porridge in the pot, remember to eat. I will be back at ten to take you shopping."
Qiao Lanshu: "..."
Qiao Lanshu stared at the bold, sprawling handwriting on the note for a long time. Then, she carefully tucked it into her pocket and went off to brush her teeth, beaming with joy.
